Sergeant Peter Verney, of Sussex Police, said: "Our thoughts are very much with the family at what is a very difficult time, and we would ask people to respect their privacy while they try to come to terms with what has happened."

The car came to rest after crashing into the front of a cafe window, leaving customers trapped inside.

The female driver of the black Volkswagen Beetle also suffered minor injuries and police say they are examining whether she was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident at 1.55pm in Battle, near Hastings, East Sussex.

A witness described how people in the town came together to help in the aftermath of the smash.

"The guys on the site here helped out,” she said. "We didn't see the crash but quite a few people called the emergency services and helped manage traffic until the police arrived.

"There was a lot of people outside - the town was very busy. You just don't expect anything like that to happen. I heard this morning it was a family - it is horrendous."

Emergency teams debrief after freeing a woman trapped against a coffee shop after being mowed down by a suspected drunk driverCredit:
Nick Fontana/ Nick Fontana

The car was left in the road until the evening, and police cordoned off the street.

Witness Paul Noble said he saw a man lying in the road in the aftermath of the incident, whilst the woman was seen crushed between the car and the cafe.

He added: "What I saw has been at the forefront of my mind since yesterday. I didn't recognise them. I can only imagine they were a young family enjoying a day out in Battle."

The mother and father were taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, where the father remains in a serious condition with head injuries.

The female driver and the three children were treated for minor injuries and shock at Conquest Hospital in St Leonards-on-Sea.

Floral tributes havebeen left at the scene, where the Lounge Coffee shop remains closed.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "Police examining the circumstances of the crash are investigating reports that the car driver may have been under the influence of alcohol when it occurred."